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New GE Grid IQ Innovation Centre in Markham, Ontario, set to create 146 local jobs

March 11, 2011 | By Alyssa Dalton



March 11, 2011 – Through a partnership with the Ontario government, GE Canada is establishing the GE Grid IQ Innovation Centre in Markham, creating 146 jobs in the area. According to the province, the new centre will develop and manufacture smart grid products and services to help Ontario’s power grid…

• Detect outages and automatically re-route power to downed areas.
• Manage the shutdown of downed power lines to increase safety and reduce fire hazards.
• Keep critical organizations running if there is a power disruption.

Over time, smart grid technologies will provide Ontario families with the ability to control their power usage from the comfort of their home, office, cottage, or any place that has an internet connection, said GE.

“Today’s announcement is an excellent example of how business and government can partner to develop innovative technologies that address Ontario’s needs while having applicability to sustainable energy demands globally,” said Elyse Allan, president and CEO, GE Canada.

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Within the next four years, GE says it expects to spend $18.5 million in R&D-related activities, developing its products and services. Ontario is providing $7.9 million towards the project, and GE is investing $40 million. The centre will also include a smart grid demonstration centre and lab facility, which will be used to showcase their products and services to customers.

“GE is an integral part of our region’s economy, and this latest investment is welcome news for our community. I’m pleased that our government continues to partner with local businesses, creating good jobs for people in Markham and throughout the province,” said Dr. Helena Jaczek, MPP Oak Ridges-Markham.


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